Seductive Agents Worry Price, Usc’s Robinson

The names of players from at least five Pacific-10 Conference football teams have been linked with a phone list of a California-based sports agent, prompting coaches and officials within the league to take another hard look at the problem of athletes becoming involved with agents while they are still in school.

Hardest hit by the recent rash of such incidents was Southern California, which has ruled tailback Shawn Walters, linebacker Errick Herrin and defensive end Israel Ifeanyi ineligible because of their associations with agent Troy Caron, owner of Pro Manage of Oxnard, Calif.

Walters allegedly received $15,900 from Caron since last year, according to documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times, while Herrin and Ifeanyi reportedly received pagers. In addition, UCLA’s all-American linebacker Donnie Edwards was scheduled to meet today with Pac-10 officials regarding reports that he received $150 in food from Caron.

Other Pac-10 players who were on the phone list obtained by the Times included Arizona linebacker Tedy Bruschi and wide receiver Richard Dice, California wide receiver Iheanyi Uwaezuoke and Oregon State defensive back Reggie Tongue.

Sources indicated to the Times that every player on the list received something from Caron, but so far the three USC players are the only ones who have been declared ineligible.

UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis said he was optimistic Edwards would be cleared of any wrongdoing and officials from Arizona, Cal and OSU said they have looked into the incident involving their players and plan no action.

“We deemed them to be eligible,” Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood said of Bruschi and Dice. “Everything we found was true and consistent with what the kids told us. We’re not going to put these kids or our university in jeopardy. … I think it is resolved.”

Cal AD John Kasser said he found no wrongdoing by Uwaezuoke. “His name is on a phone list and there’s nothing more to it,” Kasser said.

And an OSU spokesperson announced that it will support Tongue’s explanation that he is not linked to Caron or his agency.

USC officials say they will seek restoration of their three players through the NCAA eligibility committee.

USC athletic director Mike Garrett said he is not worried that the fifth-ranked and unbeaten Trojans will have to forfeit any games for having used the players who are now ineligible.

Trojans coach John Robinson believes something needs to be done about the situation, which allows agents to “seduce” players with promises of NFL riches.

“I don’t have any unusual wisdom about that (agents dealing with players in violation of NCAA rules), other than that it’s a major problem, and it is confusing,” Robinson said Tuesday at his weekly meeting with reporters. “But it’s a problem that everybody involved has to try to deal with.

“Most of (the players) live on the edge of poverty. Does anybody believe these kids are fat cats? Most of them get two meals a day at the most unless their family supports them.”

No players from Washington State were on Caron’s phone list, but Cougars coach Mike Price said he continues to warn his players about becoming involved with an agent too early.

“We have had counseling on that and meetings with our players about agents,” Price said. “We’ve even had agents come in who are personal friends of mine and talk to the team about agents.”

Price said former NFL great Kellen Winslow, who is now a sports agent, recently adressed his team. But he admitted that, no matter what one does to educate players, the final decision is still theirs.

Fien benched

True freshman Cade McNown has unseated junior Ryan Fien as UCLA’s starting quarterback, coach Terry Donahue announced earlier this week. The Bruins have a bye this Saturday, but Donahue said McNown will start in UCLA’s Oct. 14 game against Arizona.

McNown earned the starting job by completing 18 of 22 passes for 306 yards and one touchdown in last Saturday’s 45-21 rout of Fresno State.

“I thought he played extremely well,” Donahue said. “I was certainly impressed and he’ll get better and better with each week that he plays. I think he’s going to be a real successful player here.”

USC quarterbacks excel

USC continues to get great production out of its quarterback tandem of Brad Otton and Kyle Wachholtz.

Heading into last Saturday’s game against Arizona State, Wachholtz and Otton ranked 1-2 in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency. And they did little to damage their percentages in the Trojans’ 31-0 win over the Sun Devils.

Otton threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and Wachholtz completed 11 of 14 passes for 113 yards.

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